Spot-dyeing clamp



.Huy30,1929. AHADAMS l mzz SPOT DYEING CLAMP Filed Jan. 3VO, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l t/15g., Z. l '5. fa,

July 30, 1929. A. H. ADAMS 3,722,781

SPOT DYEING CLAMP Filed Jan/5o, 1925 2 sheets-sheet 2 l. )"LAWS 4 351g @awo/mam? A Pantea July 3o, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT' omer..

ARTHUR H. ADAMS, 0F LAKEVILLE, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO HERMAN EPSTEIN, OFN'EWARK, NEW JERSEY.

SPOT-DYEING CLAMP.

Application led January 30, 1923. Serial No. 615,890.

This invention relates to improvements in spot dyeing skeins and more particularly 1n a new and improved clamp for protecting portions of a skein against the dyeing liquor and a process of arranging the skeins for spot dyeing.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a clamping means of the above identified type, whereby a large number of skeins may be simultaneously spot dyed with economy of space, and the assembling of sets of clamped skeins is rendered simple and rapid. The invention is an improvement on the clamp and process disclosed in copending applications of H. Epstein Serial No. 57 7,283, filed July 25, 1922, and Serial No. 597,202, filed October 26, 1922.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a skein clamping element; Figs. 2 and 2a are two different end views of rubber cushioning elements which may be applied to the clamping element; Figs. 3 and 3a are two different views of a modified form of cushioning element as applied to the clamps; Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section along lines 4 4 of Fig. 5 and illustrates a set of clamps in assembled position; Fig. 5 is an elevation of a complete clamp assembly with the skeins in position for dyeing; and Fig. 6 is an end view of a modified clamp and skein assembly.

As shown in Fig. 1. -the clamping element 1 is substantially in the form of a rectangular box having relatively thin upper an lower yclamping edges 2, 3, a rib or web 4 projecting inside of the box for strengthening the structure and grooved lugs 5 projecting sideways. The whole clamping box 1 is preferably cast of some metal which will have no harmful effect on the dye bath. The box may also be moulded of Bakelite yor other suitable material.

In order to prevent the penetration of dyeing liquor to the lengths of skein located between the clamping edges of box 1, a pad or cushion preferably of soft gum rubber, 6 is placed on top and below the box 1. These rubber pads 6 are both larger'and longer than the box whereby the marginally overhang the clamping edges 2 and 3. Preferably two rubber pads 6 are fastened together in the manner shown in Figs. 2 and 2a' by being glued or otherwise attached to a small block 7 of wood or the like which fits within the box l. One pad 6 serves for covering the clamping edge 2 and the other for covermg .the clamping edge 3. If the clamping box 1s very low, the two rubber pads may be glued together without the interposition of block 7 Instead of thus applying the cushioning pad around the clamping edges of the box, the 'same result may be attained by slipping the whole box within a rubber hose 8 in the manner illustrated in Figs. 3 and 3a. The diameter of the rubber hose 8 must be such as to insure its fitting tightly around the edges of the box. Or the edges 2 and 3 may be moulded of soft gum rubber and attached to the body of clamp 1.

The manner in which a clamp assembly is composed is clearly illustrated in Fig. 4. The assembly consists of a base plate 10 which is slightly larger than a box 1 and from which project two rods l1 and 12. The

' ends of these rods are screw-,threaded at 13 and 14 to be engaged by nuts 15 and 16, re-

spectively. The width between rods 11 and l2 is such as to insure their registering with the grooves in the two lugs 5 of a box '1.

In assembling a set of clamps first a rubber cushion or pad 6 is laid on the base plate 10 and preferably fastened in position. On this is spread thin and flat a length of skein 20. Then a box 1 with rubber cushions 6 contactd ing with the upper and lower clamping edges is slid on top of the skein with the grooved lugs 5 partially surrounding "the rods 11 and 12. It should be-noted in this connection that the block 7 by means of which the two rubber pads are interconnected is not as thick as the box, whereby the two rubber cushions will be slightly concave to permit their compression around the clampapplying pressure to plate 21 and the clamps are maintained in their compressed position by means of nuts-15 and 16. l

As will be seen from Fig. 5 as many of these clamping assemblies will'be pro-vided as is required for the purpose of obtaining the desired spacing of colors'. A plurality of clamp pile-ups may be simultaneously compressed. When the skeins are clamped at a suiicient number of spots, each clamp assembly is hung up on a rod 25 by means of strings 26 which terminate in hooks 27 engaging' apertures 28 in the ends ofthe rods 11 and 12. By means of the rod 25 the whole structure is lowered into the dyeing liquor. The dyeing liquor is kept ineagitation and the clamp pile-ups are moved from time-to-time for the purpose of insuring the penetration of the dyeing liquor to all the exposed strands between adjacent clamps. The distance between superimposed skeins 20 is such as to insure the possibility of such circulation. Obviously, the horizontal spacing of the clamps and the width of the clamps used depends on the size of the skein and the color spacing desired. Furthermore, the skeins may be clamped entirely within a single clamp pileup in the manner illustrated in Fig. 6.

It is important that the skeins be spread thin and flat because otherwise a compact core might be formed to which insuiiicient liquor will penetrate to insure thorough dyeing. The preservation of the skein in this practically lattened position will be insured by the shape of the clamping boxes and by the fact that in compressing a pile-up, pressure may simultaneously be applied to all the cla-mping edges at right angles to the horizontal axis of the skeins. The pressure is mainly effective at the clamping edges insuring proper sealing of the lengths of skein to be protected fromthe dyeing liquor and necessitating but slight pressure.

When the clamped skeins are removed from 'l the dye bath, they are washed and then hung up to dry. When dry, the skeins are removed from the clamps and are then subjected to further treatments well known in the art.

What I claim is:

1. In a pad for a clamping box for skein dyeing, two v`flexible, elastic ads superimposed one upon the other and Joined together intermediate their edges, said two pads being separable from each other at the edges.

2. A pad for a clamping box for skein dyeing comprising two flexible elastic pads superimposed one upon the other and spaced and interconnected by a spacing member placed intermediate their edges.

3. A pad for a clamping b ox for skein d eing, comprising a flexible elastic pad o a given size, a wooden block of a smaller size, and a second flexible, elastic pad, said pads and blockbeing symmetrically disposed one on top of another inthe order first mentioned,

said pads being secured to said block and having their edges free.

4.' A skein dyeing device comprising a rigid clamping box having an upper and a lower relatively narrow clamping edge, a iiexible, elastic pad in contact with each clamping edge of the box, said pads extending marginally outward and overhanging the clamping edges, and means within the box to which the pads are fastened.

5. A skein dyeing device comprising a rigid clamping box having an upper and a lower clamping edge a flexible pad in contact with each clamping edge of the box, said pads extending marginally outward over the clamping edges, an aperture in the box and means within the aperture for fastening the pads together.

'-6. In' combination, a unitary resilient pad having a relatively wide solid central portion with overhanging ilexible sealing edges, and a rigid box having edges cooperating with the flexible edges of said pad to effect the sealing and a central cut-out portion registering with the central portion 'of said pad for 'accurately positioning said pad with relation to said box.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 10th day of January, 1923.

ARTHUR H. ADAMS. 

